MINNESOTA WILD NEWS

Mats Zuccarello - Nets game-winning goal Thursday Zuccarello scored a power-play goal in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets.

Impact Zuccarello came through when the Wild needed him the most, and the veteran winger found the back of the net midway through the third period on the power play following a clever set-up from Matt Boldy. Zuccarello should remain as a top-six forward and a member of the first power-play unit, which should give him plenty of opportunities to produce while skating alongside Marco Rossi and Kirill Kaprizov.

OCTOBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

Marcus Johansson - Two helpers in win Thursday Johansson posted two assists, including one on the power play, and a plus-2 rating in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets.

Impact The Wild's second line of Johansson, Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy certainly made a difference in this game, and while Johansson didn't find the back of the net in this season opener, he was credited with assists in the first and third goals, with the latter coming on the power play. Johansson had 11 goals and 19 assists across 78 regular-season appearances with the Wild in 2023-24, and that represented his highest total since the 2019-20 campaign.

OCTOBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

Joel Eriksson Ek - Opens season with goal Eriksson Ek scored a goal on three shots in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets.

Impact Eriksson Ek started in the second line between Marcus Johansson and Matt Boldy, and at the end of the day, that line was the one that carried Minnesota to victory since all three got on the scoresheet one way or another. Eriksson Ek will probably compete with Marco Rossi for the center role in the first line, and while one game is not enough to draw conclusions, he certainly opened the season on a strong note.

OCTOBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

Matt Boldy - Stands out on Opening Night Boldy finished with one goal and two assists, including one on the power play, in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets.

Impact Boldy was involved in each of Minnesota's three goals in this one, breaking the deadlock with a wrist shot from the circle in the first goal and then providing helpers in the remaining two goals, including Mats Zuccarello's power-play goal in the third period. Boldy had 29 goals and 69 points across 75 games with the Wild in 2023-24, and he figures to play an important role for the Wild on offense once again in 2024-25.

OCTOBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

Minnesota and Seattle square off in Western Conference play

The Minnesota Wild and the Seattle Kraken face off in Western Conference play

OCTOBER 11 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Boldy's 3 points help Wild defeat Blue Jackets in season opener | NHL.com Has goal, two assists, Gustavsson makes 31 saves; Evason loses debut as Columbus coach

OCTOBER 11 • NHL.COM

Matt Boldy's 3 points help Wild edge Jackets in opener Matt Boldy scored a goal and tallied two assists, and the Minnesota Wild held on for a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday ni...

OCTOBER 11 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Wild hang on to beat Blue Jackets 3-2 in opener behind Boldy, Eriksson Ek and Gustavsson

Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek scored on a strong night for the second line, Mats Zuccarello added a power-play goal and the Minnesota Wild opened the season by beating former coa...

OCTOBER 11 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Watch Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild live stream The Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild start their seasons on Thursday, Oct. 10.

OCTOBER 10 • MASSLIVE.COM

Jesper Wallstedt - Sent to AHL The Wild reassigned Wallstedt to AHL Iowa on Thursday.

Impact Minnesota had only six healthy defensemen with Declan Chisholm out of action with an illness, so they demoted Wallstedt, who was set to be their third goaltender Thursday, and promoted Daemon Hunt as their seventh defenseman. Wallstedt is expected to see plenty of action at the NHL level this season, as the Wild are likely to share the net between Wallstedt, Filip Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury, unless one of the threesome gets hot. Wallstedt should make 25-30 appearances as he is the Wild's goaltender of the future.

OCTOBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Daemon Hunt - Recalled from Iowa Hunt was recalled from AHL Iowa ahead of Thursday's tilt versus Columbus.

Impact The Wild were in need of a seventh defenseman as Declan Chisholm is unable to play due to an illness. Jon Merrill is expected to claim Chisholm's role on the bottom pairing, while Hunt is expected to be an extra. The Wild sent goaltender Jesper Wallstedt to the AHL in a corresponding move.

OCTOBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Filip Gustavsson - Starting versus Columbus Gustavsson will patrol the blue paint versus Columbus on Thursday, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.

Impact Gustavsson gets the Opening Night assignment as the Wild are starting the season with three goaltenders, including Marc-Andre Fleury and Jesper Wallstedt. Gustavsson was mediocre last season, as he had a 20-17-5 record, with a 3.06 GAA and an .899 save percentage. He faces lowly Columbus, who finished the 2023-24 campaign with 66 points, the worst in the Eastern Conference.

OCTOBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Declan Chisholm - Unavailable Thursday Chisholm (illness) is not practicing and will not play versus Columbus on Thursday, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.

Impact Chisholm also missed practice Wednesday. Chisholm had three goals and six assists in 31 regular-season games, split between the Wild and Winnipeg in 2023-24, including two goals and three assists on the power play. Jon Merrill will play in place of Chisholm on the third defense pairing Thursday.

OCTOBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

HockeyBuzz.com - Zak MacMillan - CBJ G1 @ Minnesota Wild - Envious Evason NHL Hockey Trade Rumors

OCTOBER 10 • HOCKEYBUZZ.COM

Five steps for the Wild to return to the NHL playoffs A slow start last season started the team on a roller coaster that ended with no postseason berth.

OCTOBER 9 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov's most memorable NHL goals Over four seasons with the Wild, the All-Star winger has 160 goals. Here are some of the best.

OCTOBER 9 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Jake Middleton - Available for Opening Night Middleton (bruise) will be available for Thursday's Opening Night matchup against the Blue Jackets, Jessi Pierce of NHL.com reports.

Impact Middleton dealt with a bruise last in training camp, but he returned to practice Monday and will be able to suit up for the regular-season opener. The 28-year-old logged seven goals, 25 points, 161 blocked shots and 147 hits while averaging 19:49 of ice time over 80 appearances for Minnesota last year.

OCTOBER 9 • ROTOWIRE

Matt Boldy - Set to play Thursday Boldy (lower body) will be available for Minnesota's Opening Night against Columbus on Thursday, per Jessi Pierce of NHL.com.

Impact Boldy had 29 goals and 69 points across 75 games with the Wild in 2023-24, marking the second straight campaign in which he exceeded the 60-point milestone. He's got a good chance of generating a similar amount of offensive production this season while serving in a top-six capacity and on the first power-play unit.

OCTOBER 9 • ROTOWIRE

Declan Chisholm - Absent from practice Chisholm wasn't on the ice for Wednesday's practice due to illness, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.

Impact Chisholm appeared in 29 regular-season games for the Wild last year after they acquired him from Winnipeg. In those outings, the 24-year-old blueliner recorded three goals and five assists, including five power-play points. While he might struggle for regular minutes with the man advantage this year, in part due to the return of Jared Spurgeon, Chisholm should be a regular in the lineup. If he can't play Thursday against the Jackets, Jon Merrill figures to step into a third-pairing role.

OCTOBER 9 • ROTOWIRE

Wild host the Blue Jackets in season opener

The Minnesota Wild host the Columbus Blue Jackets in the season opener

OCTOBER 9 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

NHL Now: Marc-Andre Fleury | NHL.com Marc-Andre Fleury joins NHL Now as he enters his 21st season

OCTOBER 8 • NHL.COM

Jake Middleton - Practices Monday Middleton (bruise) took part in Monday's practice session, John Shipley of The Pioneer Press reports.

Impact Middleton looks to be on track to play in the season opener against the Jackets on Thursday. If the defenseman does suffer a setback in his recovery, Declan Chisholm would likely see the biggest uptick in ice time while Jon Merrill would move into a third-pairing role. Offensively, Middleton remains somewhat limited even after his career-best 2023-24 in which he posted seven goals and 18 helpers.

OCTOBER 8 • ROTOWIRE

Wild forward Yakov Trenin should help team's penalty kill A compatriot of Kirill Kaprizov, Trenin has a well-earned reputation of being "tough to play against."

OCTOBER 8 • STARTRIBUNE.COM